Angiography

Angiography is a medical imaging technique that is used to view the veins and arteries of the body while they are functioning to look for blockages, flow disturbances, and other problems. It is used to diagnose peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis (plaque build up), thrombosis (blood clots), stroke, and many other vessel disorders.

“Angiography” comes from the Greek words angeion meaning “vessel”, and graphein meaning “to write or record”. The resulting pictures are called angiograms or an angiographs.

To perform angiography, a long flexible catheter is inserted into one of the major arteries in the arm or groin, then advanced to the area of interest. Once the end of the catheter is in position, an X-ray contrast agent is released. Images are taken at four frames per second, then these images can be viewed in sequence so that blood flow can be analyzed.

Angiography is a catheter-based procedure that our doctors perform at our freestanding facility in Dayton, Ohio. The procedure takes about an hour and requires no overnight stay.

Angioplasty

To perform angioplasty, a balloon catheter is inserted into a vein or artery and guided through your circulatory system to the narrowed section of the artery or vein, then the balloon is expanded to compress plaque and widen the blood vessel. Once the vessel has been widened, a stent may be placed in the vessel to hold it open and prevent future problems.

“Angioplasty” is a word composed of the Greek words aggeios meaning “vessel”, and plastos meaning “formed” or “molded”.

Angioplasty is a catheter-based procedure that our doctors perform at our freestanding facility in Dayton, Ohio. The procedure takes about an hour and does not require a hospital stay.

Embolization

Embolization is the selective blocking of blood vessels by placing tiny particles in the vessel. Once the particles in place, the blood flow along that vessel is dimished or stopped entirely. Embolization is used for many purposes, such as cutting off the blood supply to malignant tumors or uterine fibroids, or to stop hemorrhaging in the lungs or nasal passages.

The particles are about the size of a grain of sand, and they are made of a plastic substance that is similar to the material used to make hard contact lenses, called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This is a medical-grade material that is FDA approved for embolization and has been used for embolization in the human body for over 30 years.

Embolization is a catheter-based procedure. The catheter is guided via fluoroscopy (live X-ray) to the location to be blocked. The particles are released until the blood flow has been reduced to the appropriate level. The catheter is withdrawn and the procedure is done.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure that uses radio waves to destroy damaged or abnormal tissue. It may be used to close a damaged vein to force healthy veins to take over its function. It may be used to destroy cancerous tumors in the liver or lungs.

When RFA is used to treat tumors, a hollow needle is guided directly into the tumor using fluoroscopy (live X-ray) for guidance to ensure precise placement. Once the needle is in place, a set of tiny metal wires is extended and radiofrequency energy is applied.

When RFA is used to treat damaged or malformed blood vessels, the tiny metal wires are transported to the correct location with a catheter that travels through your blood vessels.

Stenting

A stent is a tiny mesh tube that is inserted into a vessel to reshape the vessel walls. They are often inserted into blood vessels that have been narrowed by plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) or due to collapse. Angioplasty is often performed to widen the blood vessel, then a stent is placed inside the blood vessel to prevent the blood vessel from collapsing or narrowing again. Stents are also placed as stent grafts to create new vessel walls in the case of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Stent placement is a catheter-based procedure. The catheter carries the stent to the location of the narrowed or collapsed blood vessel, then the stent is placed in position, possibly as part of the balloon angioplasty procedure.

Thrombectomy and Thrombolysis

Thrombectomy and thrombolysis are used to treat blood clots within arteries or veins. These can occur for many reasons, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Thrombectomy is the removal of the blood clot, thrombolysis is the destruction of the blood clot.

A flexible catheter is inserted and guided to the location of the clot with the help of fluoroscopy (live X-ray). In thrombolysis, a clot-busting (thrombolytic) chemical is injected directly into the clot so that it dissolves harmlessly. In thrombectomy, the clot is grabbed and then slowly drawn out of the vein or artery.

These are both catheter-guided procedures that our doctors perform at our freestanding facility. The procedure takes about an hour and no overnight stay is required.